A Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin this week visited Afghanistan to discuss cooperation in regional transport projects.
The Kazakh side announced its readiness to participate in projects for the development of the trans-Afghan corridor: the construction of the Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar and Herat – Kandahar – Spin Buldak railways. The projects will make it possible to reduce the delivery time of goods between the countries of the region by almost 10-fold, and lower the cost of cargo transportation. Kazakhstan is ready to take part in the construction of the trans-Afghan railways by supplying materials for building the railway track, sleepers and fastenings.
Over the past three years, the volume of export transportation from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan has been growing steadily: in 2023, rail transportation amounted to 2.7 million tons, including 1.5 million tons of Kazakh flour and grain, a 14% increase compared to 2021. In the coming years Kazakh exports to Afghanistan are expected to increase by 40%.
Kazakhstan and Afghanistan also discussed resuming air traffic. According to a memorandum between the Kazakh and Afghan aviation authorities, air carriers of the two countries will operate three scheduled passenger/cargo flights per week.
